Sci Assessment "Exam" w/ AICE Style Questions

Tide

Tide

The periodic rise and fall of the surface of the ocean resulting from the gravitational pull of the moon and the sun

Diurnal

2 changes; 1 hightide and 1 lowtide in 24 hours

Semi-Diurnal

4 changes; 2 highs and 2 lows in 24 hours

Mixed Semi-Diurnal

4 changes; 2 highs and 2 lows in 24 hours of varying heights

Tidal Ranges

The difference in height between the high-tide mark and the low-tide mark over the course of a day; also called the tidal amplitude

Tidal Surge

The coastal flooding of an abnormally high seawater level associated with low pressure weather systems; also called a storm surge

Spring Tide

A tide that occurs twice a month when the Sun and Moon are aligned (Full and New Moon) causing the largest tidal range

Neap Tide

A tide that occurs twice a month when the Moon and Sun are at right angles from each other (1st and 3rd Quarter Moons) causing the smallest tidal range

Influences of the coastline

Shape: Narrowing rivers or bays = Higher Tide Tidal range: Strong wind and low pressure = Extremely High Tide

Bay of Fundy

Eastern Canada between New Brunswick and Nova Scotia Large tidal range 16m (53 ft)

Tidal Wave

Called a Tidal Bore, NOT a tsunami Occurs where the coastline narrows and water piles up (funneling)

Spawning

Triggered by Tidal movement (Christmas Tree Island Crab + Capelin fish)

Bioluminescence Bay (Puerto Rico)

Tides move the bioluminescent dinoflagellates into the bay

What are ocean currents

Continuous movement of ocean water, driven by forces acting on the water (wind, coriolis effect, density)

Effects of ocean currents

• Maintain/ Influence weather and climate

• Distribute nutrients (plankton carried)

• Scatter organisms

Surface currents

Formed by global winds (frictional force, main force making water move) and coriolis effect (change trajectory, serves as por), fast

Deep Currents

Formed vertically descending cold dense water, very slow (density, main driving force)

Warm Surface currents characteristics

Originate near equator, warm, fast, narrow, deep, western boundaries (Gulf stream)

Cold Surface current characteristics

Originate near poles, cold, slow, wide, shallow, eastern boundaries (Canary Current)

Gyre

Where major surface currents in each ocean (per hemisphere) rotate in a circular motion (of 4 currents)

Deep Currents

Cold dense sinking water, slow moving, originate in poles

Coriolis effect

A force that results from the Earth's rotation that causes objects or particles in motion to deflect to the right in the Northern Hemisphere and to the left in the Southern

Thermohaline Circulation

Large-scale ocean circulation caused by density differences due to temperature and salinity changes in the world's ocean

Global Ocean Conveyor Belt

Constantly moving systems of deep-ocean water driven by thermohaline circulation

Downwelling

The downward movement of water in the sea due to density differences

Upwelling

The movement of cold, nutrient-rich water from deep in the ocean to the surface

El Nino

A warm current that develops off the coast of Ecuador around december, which can cause widespread death within local food chains

La Nina

A cold current that develops off the coast of Ecuador and spreads across the Pacific, reducing sea surface temperatures for extended periods of time

ENSO (El Nino Southern Oscillation)

-cycle every 3-7 years -sequence of events in the Southern Pacific Ocean -ocean changes affect weather pattern

Normal Conditions in the S. Pacific

-upwelling of cold water -productive waters lots of phytoplankton -warm surface blows east to west, towards AU

El Nino Conditions in S. Pacific

-sea surface temperature changes -tradewinds slow or reverse -equatorial current slows or reverses -upwelling occurs in the middle of the ocean -peru current (cold) weakens -ITCZ moves South

Defining feature of a Delta from an Estuary (AICE Q)

The triangular shape of a delta allows distinguishable quality of a delta from an estuary

Alignment of Sun, Moon, Earth on tidal range (AICE Q)

When the moon is in a straight line with the Sun and the Earth forming a New moon or Full moon a spring tide is created which is the largest tidal range. When the moon and sun diagonally make the hypotenuse of a right 90 degree angle in relation to the earth creating a first or third quarter moon allows a neap tide which creates the smallest tidal range.

Weathering and its types?

The wearing down or breaking of rocks through physical, chemical or organic means

Erosion and its types?

A natural process where material is worn away from the Earth’s surface and TRANSPORTED elsewhere

ice, gravity, wind and water

Sedimentation

The delivery, or deposition (a geological process where sediments, soil and rocks are added to a landform or land mass) of these particles in a new location

Chemical Weathering + Ex.

When the chemical composition of rocks changes through exposure to water or oxygen

Acid rain on limestone

Physical (mechanical) Weathering + Ex.

When rocks are broken into smaller pieces without changing their chemical composition

Temp change, Grand canyon ice wedging, when water freezes inside rocks and it expands.

Organic (biological) Weathering + Ex.

relies on living organisms to complete the weathering process.

-Lichen release special compound that breaks down the rock

-When roots of a tree grow into the cracks in a rock

Ice Erosion

Associated with glaciers.

-Glacier moves weathers rock, weight crushes rock, sediment moved with glacier

Gravity erosion

-Hollywood movies where someone is standing on a cliff edge that begins to crack and a chunk falls down

Water erosion

Water weathers rocks breaking them into smaller pieces.